| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Caesar's Commentaries in Latin by Julius Caesar: duae legiones, XI. et VIII., profligatis Viromanduis, quibuscum erant
congressae, ex loco superiore in ipsis fluminis ripis proeliabantur. At
totis fere castris a fronte et a sinistra parte nudatis, cum in dextro
cornu legio XII. et non magno ab ea intervallo VII. constitisset, omnes
Nervii confertissimo agmine duce Boduognato, qui summam imperii tenebat,
ad eum locum contenderunt; quorum pars aperto latere legiones
circumvenire, pars summum castrorum locum petere coepit.
Eodem tempore equites nostri levisque armaturae pedites, qui cum iis
una fuerant, quos primo hostium impetu pulsos dixeram, cum se in castra
reciperent, adversis hostibus occurrebant ac rursus aliam in partem fugam
petebant; et calones, qui ab decumana porta ac summo iugo collis nostros
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Street of Seven Stars by Mary Roberts Rinehart: early and without breakfast. He went in to cover Jimmy, lying
diagonally across his small bed amid a riot of tossed blankets.
The communicating door into Harmony's room was open. Peter kept
his eyes carefully from it, but his ears were less under control.
He could hear her soft breathing. There were days coming when
Peter would stand where he stood then and listen, and find only
silence.
He tore himself away at last, closing the outer door carefully
behind him and lighting a match to find his way down the
staircase. The Portier was not awake. Peter had to rouse him, and
to stand by while he donned the trousers which he deemed
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Moon-Face and Other Stories by Jack London: Barely had I left that chamber of death, when--but too late--the following
extraordinary letter was received:
OFFICE OF THE M. of M., February 17, 1900.
MR. EBEN HALE, Money Baron:
Dear Sir,--You will pardon our intrusion, we hope, so closely upon the sad
event of day before yesterday; but what we wish to say may be of the utmost
importance to you. It is in our mind that you may attempt to escape us. There
is but one way, apparently, as you have ere this doubtless discovered. But we
wish to inform you that even this one way is barred. You may die, but you die
failing and acknowledging your failure. Note this: WE ARE PART AND PARCEL OF
YOUR POSSESSIONS. WITH YOUR MILLIONS WE PASS DOWN TO YOUR HEIRS AND ASSIGNS
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The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Philosophy 4 by Owen Wister: among their bottles, with the one outside looking covetously in at them;
and the gelding stamping in the stable.
But Silas, since he could not share, was presently of opinion that this
was enough for one sitting, and he tramped heavily upon the porch. This
brought Bertie back to the world of reality, and word was given to fetch
the gelding. The host was in no mood to part with them, and spoke of
comfortable beds and breakfast as early as they liked; but Bertie had
become entirely responsible. Billy was helped in, Silas was liberally
thanked, and they drove away beneath the stars, leaving behind them
golden opinions, and a host who decided not to disturb his helpmate by
retiring to rest in their conjugal bed.
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